Method of cleansing filters



(No Model.)

- G. H., M0033.

METHOD 0F GLEANSING FILTERS.

No. 337,423. vPatented Mar. 9, 1336.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

'-/Sheet 3.v

3 Sheets MOORE METHOD OF CLEA (No Model.)l

SING FILTERS.

Patented Mer. 9*. 1886.l

lint-'ran drains' Farrar @errent GEORGE H. Moons, or NORWIOH, oonnncricur.

METHO OF GLENSiNGFlLTERS.

crncrrcarron forming 'pari m' Letters Patent nofsevaasnated March 9, 1886.

` l Application filed August lll, 1883. Serial No, 103,706. (No model.)

ing Filtering Material in its Filtering Position, of .which the'following, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification. f

This invention relates to the art of filtration, and its object is to remove from filtering material contained'witliin an apparatus vfor I filtering liquids, any solid matter separated from a liquid bymeans of said vltering material and apparatus. The method herein claimed consists in the manner in which the iiltering material is treated in position for the purpose herein specied, and the'apparatusn herein 'shown and described being of a suitable construction and arrangement in which to employ and illustrate the method claimed.

The invention consists in the method of cleansing the iltering material, and also of destroying any germs contained therein, as

will be hereinafter described, and specified in.

the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of my improved apparatus, which illustrates my improved method of treating the iiltering 'material in .positionfor the purpose of cleansing it, and also shows anovel construction for containing the mass of loose filtering material used. Fig. 2

4 is a view in crosssection on line 'o of Fig. 3.

A in the ,views of the drawings designates an outer inclosing-vessel, of a cylindrical or other suitable form, closed at top and bottom by heads a and a. This vesselis made to constitute a lower unilteredwater compartment,

b, and-an upper filtered-water compartment,-

b', when it is desired that the filtration shall be upward, and when the apparatus is coinplete and ready for operation' as a iltering .also close the lower end of the cone C.

apparatus. The compait'ment b is provided witha-water-supply inlet, c, and in the compartment b an outlet, c', is provided. Said inlet and outlet are to connect with pipes having suitable regulating-valves. The apparatus .is also provided with suitable waste-outlets. The vessel A is also provided with a pipe, B, having a valve, e, and leading from the compartment b. Said pipe, being purposely of 6o small diameter, is used whenthe filtration is upward torelieve the interior ofthe apparatus from pressure by opeuingthe valve c when the filtering material is being treated as here in described. Wlieutlle filtration is downward in this apparatuait is used as a pipe, thronghwhich steam is admitted to the interior of thisapparatus, as hereinafter described.

Within the vessel A thatpart of the appaand vfor regulating the density of the same is suspended `upon an interior flange, f, and it comprises an outer perforated cylinder, C, and an inner perforatedl inverted-c0ne fr ustuln, C. The cylinder C and cone Gare fastened tothe annular ring g of the spider g, as shown. The ring g is provided with a n umber of lling-openings, h, closed -hy plugs. (Shown by dotted lines.) At the lower ends of the cylinder C and conel C' a iianged and recessed bottom is arranged to move up and down between the cylinder C and cone C', and thus close the chamber between said cylinder and cone, and i The cylinder and con e,togetler with the ring g and bottom D, form a downwardly-dared annular chamber, E, for containing the'ltering .ma-

Yterial consisting of any-granular substance,

preferably crushedquartz, of suitable iineness'. The bottom D is mae-e adjustable up and down by means of the screw-and-nut device ij, applied within thclhollow hub of lthe bottom D,

- and operated by means of the worm-and-gear device 7cl l, the two devices being connected by means of the shaft m,"passed down through a proper stufling--box/ of the apparatus and through the hub of the spider g, as shown, or in any other suitable manner.

i Into the vessel A the steam-pipe F is passed and extended dowli near the bottom level of 'the unfiltered-water compartment b. This pipe occupies a position within the inverted IOO truncated cone U, and its end terminates above ithefbottom D and at the lowerportion of the filteringmaterial, as shown; I n the top head of the vessel Av an opening, p, is formed for the introduction ofachemical substance, such as sodaash, lime, or acids, and the like into the body of water in which the filtering material isimmersed. Around this opening a suitable hopper, L, is formed. to The perforated cylinder C and cone Cf are covered on their outer surfaces with wire-cloth ofa properfineness. The downwardly-flared chamber Eis filled through the openings h with the filtering material, and the compactr 5 ness or density of the same is regulated by the bottom D being raised or lowered.

The filtration may be either upward or downward through the apparatus, as desired. `If the filtration is upward, water to be filtered 2o is supplied at the inlet c, and it rises in the vessel A on the outside of' the cylinder C, passes through the wi re-cloth-covered peri'orations of' said cylinder, then through the interstices between the grains of filtering mate- 2 5 rial, and, being thus separated from suspended mattei', passes through the wire-cloth-covered perforations ofthe inverted-cone frustuin C into the chamber or reservoir formed and encircled by said cone, and from thence escapes 3o in a highly inechanicallypurified state into the filtered-water compartment b', and passes ofi' through the outlet c ready for use.

lf', instead of' filtering upward through the apparatus, as hercinbef'ore described, it is desii-ed that the filtration should be downward,` then the water to be filtered issupplied through the filtered-water outlet c', which is now used as an inlet, from whence it passes into the ap paratus, filling the reservoir formed and en- 4o circled by the'cone C and the filtered-water compartment b', and then passes through the wire-cloth-covcred perforations of the coue- C, through the intcrstices between the grains offiltering material, and, being thus separated 4 5 from suspended matter, passes through the wire-cloth-covercd perforations of the cylinder (liuto the compartments b of the vessel A, and from thence passes off' in a highly mechanically-purified state through the inlet zo c', which in this case is used as au outlet.

When the ltering material requires cleansing, it is released from compression by lowering the bottom l), to allow the grains to be mo\ ed by the united action of steam and 5 5 water. After the filtering material is cleansed in position, the bottom D is again caused to compress the mass of filtering material in chamber E before water to be filtered is again admitted into the apparatus.

A modified form of construction, as shown in Fig.3, of the hereinbefore-describcd appa- -Y ratusis hereinafter described to further illustrate and set forth my method of treating the filtering'material in position and any im puri- 65 ties'deposited upon or among the same by the operations of filtration. :This modified form l `ing material and the steam-pipe F, and then substituting for the conical filtered-water reservoir which communicated with a filteredwater outlet, a cylindrical filtered-water reservoir which communicates with the filteredwater outlet near the bottom of the case A, 8o instead of near its top` for reasons hereinafter set forth. In this modified form of construction the filtration may be upward or downward. WVhen the filtration is to bedownward, liquid to be filtered is admitted through'pipe 85 C into the caseA nearits top, filling the space therein above the filtering material, and it filters downward through the contained mass of filtering material to the filtered-water reservoir, fiowing into it through itsVwire-cloth- 9o covered perforations, and from thence through. the filtered-water pipe out and away from the apparatus, the impurities contained in the liquid operated upon being deposited upon and near the top surface of' the filtering ma 95 terial.

When it becomes necessary to cleanse the filtering material, the herein described apparatus is prepared as follows: The flow of unfiltered liquid into the apparatus and the flow rco of the filtrate out therefrom is shut ofi', leavingr the interior of the apparatus not otherwise occupied filled with the liquid that has .flowed therein through the unfltcred-lqud inlet and in which the filtering material is'1o5 immersed. Then a waste-outlet is opened, to allow a portion of the immersing-liquid to flow out from the apparatus, thereby causing a vacancy in the same, as shown in Fig. 3.

The required manipulations of the apparario tus to prepare the same before the cleansing of the filtering material being co|npleted,'the following described method is employed to cleanse the filtering material in position. `In the first-described form of apparatus, when the filtratlonis'upward steam is admit-ted through pipe F, and issues therefrom at its terminus, which is near the bottom level ofthe immersed filtering material, thereby heating first' the immersing-liquid and the 12o filtering material nearest .to 4the issuing steam, the effect of' which upon said liquid and material is hereinafter more particularly de-- scribed. As the immersing, qu'id` becomes heated,the valve e in pipe B is sghtly opened, and itis obvious that then the heated im `mersing-liquid will press outwardly from the reservoir formed and encircled by thecone C through the interstices of the grains of the filtering material contained in the chamber E, 13o

moving said grains, and out through the wirecloth-covered perf'orations of the cylinder C Cri ' deposited upon the iilieringeurilieo or into the compartment lot the ease A, carrying with it any impurities that have deposited upon the tilteringsuriace or in said inter- Stices, After the innnersing-iiquid hasheeome heated, preferably to 2120 Fahrenheit, a waste-outlet, d, opened to allor.' ci a t escape "rom the apparatus oi the heated 'duid and impurities, and at the imitting into the apparatus, near reali; oi cold liquid furthe purpose e stated. it obvious that the immersin uid to circulate within the app i and that the grains ot filtering materia are nioved as described.

` ereinbt i iiltration is downward in this first i'brm oi' apparatus, it is obvious the ueutsited,impurities mustbe discompartirlost if, heating the same, and causing it to press' inwardly from said compartment, through the rire cloth-covered perilirations of the C, th rough the inter-sticos between the grains of loose iilteriug material contained in the ohaniler E, m ving said grains, and through the "-vire cloth -cerered' peiforaticus ot the cone C into the reservoir torni 1d and encircled by said cone, carrying with it any impurities that have 'tren t in stream ot' cold liqsaid iuterstiees. non

uid admit u displaces thercirom the said heated irmnersing-liquid and impurities, which pass out trom the apparatus through an open wasteoutlet located as hereinbet'ore stated. t is obvious that the portion ot` the immersingliquid first heated rises, and the rolde portion of the same sinks to become heated and rise, and it is thus caused to circulate Within the apparatus so long as steam is admitted therein or until displacedbyasiream oi' cold liquid, as described.

ln the modihed form of construction herein described in cleansing, steamJ is admitted through a pipe, C3, issuing therefrom at its 4terminus. (Showuiu Fig. 3.) Theet'fectot'the steam issuing as herein stated is non' more particularly described.

'it is obvious that the instant steam issues from the terminus of the conveying-pipe it will expand among the immersed iiltering material by reason of its Well-known expansive force. it is also obvious that almost at the instant it issues from said orilice or oriiices it will be condensed-i. e., coninto the apparatus, which` densing ol' the entering steam, its expansive force will as gradually be diffused among the immersing-liquid and lteriug material by reason of the same becoming heated until it becomes practically effective throughout the same. The heating irst oi` the lower portion oi' the immersiiig-liquid causes it gradually to rise up between the interstices oi' the grains of the filtering material, and as it rises the colder portion of the iinniersingliquid sinks, by reason of its greater speeiic gravity, until it comes in contact with the. entering steam, when, in like manner, it becomes heated and isos, this operation continuit `so long as the steam is permitted to entcr-preferahl y until, the iminersing-liquid has become heated to about 212 FahrenheitMthus obtaining a oirculation oi' the immersing `liquid which is contineti to Within the apparatus and throughout the mass of uncompressed or loose filter! ing material.

The et'tect of the expansive for-ce of the steam exerted, described, upon the immersed til.- 'tering material is to gradually agitato the same, causing friction between the grains of tiltering material, loosening the iu'ipurities` therefrom and ejecting there into that portion ICO circulation or" the immersiug-liquid- Vis also increased until the maximum desired temperature ot' the same-viz., 21.20 Fahrenheit-s reached, when the said agitation will be the greatest and the described circulation the most rapid. At this stage of the method of cleansing steam will issue trom the open Wasteoutlet of the apparatus, which is an indication that the impurities have'beeu separat-ed from the filtering material and can non' be easily ejected from the apparatus. A stream of cold liquid is now admit-ted into the apparatus, which, by reason of its greater specific gravity,displaces the heated immersing-liquid and impurities. causing them to dow ii rst out from the apparatus. X'Vhen water ltered through a mass of filtering material is used tor domestic purposes-especially as drinking-materna single tact will serve to show the value and importance ot" the hereindescribed method of cleansing iiltering material in position.

It is well known that certain small bodies called germs are, some' of them, the cause of disease when introduced into the human body, and that these germs are associated with the particles or" organic matter suspended in water, and which are separated from it when it is passed through filtering material, the germs remai ning among theiiltering material. Further, itis asserted theyv can only practically be destroyed by boiling,and in some eases only by prolonged boiling. Thereforeit is obvious 4 t sa?,

that a mass of filtering material contained! within a filter and used for the purpose offil tering drinking-Water must quickly become permeated with these germs,which soon cause it to be unt for use as designed, and a means of polluting instead of purifying thewaterfili tered through it. ,u

The method oftreating the of either an acid or alkaline nature introduced within the apparatus is as follows: Said substance is preferably introduced into the hereinbefore-described immersing-liquid,and then steam is admitted amonglr the same for the purpose of' heating the immers-ingliquid and chemical substance and effecting a combination between them, and to cause said combination to circulate amongl the loose filtering material in the manner herein described, that it may combine with any matter having au affinity therefor which has been separated by means of the filtering material contained within tbc apparatus from thc liquid operated upon, and afterward displacing the saine from the apparatus by intrcducing therein a stream of cold liquid.

The above-described method of treating a chemical substance will he made the subject of another application for a patent.

In the first herein described foian ot apparatus, when the bottom D is lowered the filtering material is released from compression, and said lowering` also enlarges the chamber containing the filtering material, thus form' ing a chamber i'or the purpose stated which is not filled with filtering material` and in which the grains of filtering material coutained therein can be agitated or moved in the manner and for the purpose herein described.

In the modified forni of construction herein described it is obvious that the filtering material is released from compression by shutting ofi' the inlet ofthe apparatus and opening an outlet, and that the chamber or receptacle for containing filtering material is not filled with filtering material.. It is also obvious that the filtering-passages are the iuterstices between the grains of' filtering mate rial contained within the apparatus, and that when said grains are agitated or moved in chemical substance theherein described method of cleansing, said Aliquid, which, Y matter, flows out from the apparatus through filtering-passages are re-formed, and that this reforming occurs Whenever the filtering material is cleansed as herein described. i

It is evident that the cleansing of the filtering material is effected by means of steam affecting the tiltering material, the immersing-liquid, and the solid matter separated from the liquid filtered, as herein' described, and that said immersing-liquid and ejected deposited matter will flow out and away from the apparatus through a waste-outlet located at the top level of the filteringl material without the aid ot' a stream of cold liquid, and more rapidlyT if steam is permitted to enter intotbe apparatus while theimmersing-liquid and deposited matterare flowing out, as above stated; but prefer a stream4 of cold liquid for the purpose of displacement,as hereinv described. y

Having claiml. The herein-described method of cleansing filtering material in position, by means of steam introduced within the apparatus for thus described my invention, I

`the purpose of agitating a mass of immersed,.

movable, loose filtering material in position therein, at the same ,time reforming the filtering-passages thereof, and causing the imniersiugliquid to circulate Within the apparatus, and ejecting from the rial any deposited matter into theimmersingwith the contained deposited a u'asteoutlct, all substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

2. ,The method of cleansing filtering material while in position within the filtering apparatus, consisting in heating and agitatlng the filtering material and the liquid in which it is immersed, and then introducing within the apparatus a stream of cold liquid, there` by displacing the heated immersing-liquid and any ,deposited matter contained therein, and causing the same to flow out and away from the filtering apparatus through a wasteoutlet, substantially as set forth.

GEORGE H. MOORE.

Witnesses:

Roer. L. FENWICK, B. C. FENWICK.

filtering mate, 

